Prone workout assisting instrument

ABSTRACT

An assisting instrument allows a person to effectively train his/her inner unit by movements in twisting directions or one leg raises, and allows the twisting movements in a prone posture. A first body part is comprised of a rectangular parallelepiped part and an integrated semicircle pillar section. When the assisting instrument is used during workouts in the prone posture, the person&#39;s two anterior superior iliac spines and pubis part are protected by a first pad, a second pad, and a third pad, respectively, and his/her abdomen is fitted into a groove part. When the person raises one of his/her legs, the semicircle pillar section to the opposite side. As a result of holding his/her body to prevent the rolling and prevent his/her body from being thrown out of the instrument, the person puts his/her strength in the inner unit and, thus, this part can be trained.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an instrument for supporting workouts in a prone posture.

BACKGROUND ART

FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a conventional workout assisting instrument 100 publicly available as a brand name “StretchPole Active®” which is used in a prone posture. The workout assisting instrument 100 is entirely formed by a rubber member made of elastic material. When a person works out, since a planar part of the instrument 100 entirely face-contacts a floor surface, the instrument 100 enables the person to work out in the prone posture in a three-point supporting state, while maintaining itself immobile. That is, a first part 100PA projected from a central part of the instrument 100 contacts a pubis part of the body of the person who works out in the prone posture. Further, a second part 100PB extending in an upper right direction at an angle of about 45° from the first part 100PA contacts a protruded (left anterior superior iliac spine) part of a left pelvis part of the person's body. Further, a third part 100PC extending in an upper left direction at an angle of about 45° from the first part 100PA contacts a protruded part (right anterior superior iliac spine) of a right pelvis part of the person's body. By the three-point contact between the parts and the person's body, the workout assisting instrument 100 supports the person's body in the prone posture at the three points. The workout assisting instrument 100 has an advantage as a product in that it is always in a fixed state and immobile during the workouts, when the workout person performs various movements of workouts while the planar part of the instrument entirely face-contacts the floor surface, as described above. The workout person can mainly strengthen his/her ability to run by performing a movement of raising his/her hands and legs in the prone posture with the three-point support as described above.

REFERENCE DOCUMENTS OF CONVENTIONAL ART Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: JP3166427U

Patent Document 2: JP2009-530044A (FIG. 42; [0187])

Patent Document 3: JP3102644U

Patent Document 4: JP09-135921A

Patent Document 5: JP2005-137567A

NONPATENT DOCUMENT

Nonpatent Document 1:

“What is StretchPole Active?” [on line], Conditioning Center Being, Jul. 30, 2009, [searched in October 19, Heisei 23 (2011)], Internet <URL:http://be-ing.net/active/>

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problem(S) to be Solved by the Invention

Since the workout assisting instrument 100 of FIG. 7 is always fixed and in an immobility state while the person is working out in the prone posture, it creates another trouble that the person cannot easily perform twisting movements of his/her body to the left and the right because the pelvis is fixed while his/her arms and legs can be moved restrictively. Further, when using the workout assisting instrument 100, it is not only difficult to move the pelvis of hips, but the range of one-leg raising movement or one-arm raising movement also becomes narrow. Therefore, it causes a trouble for the person to force him/her clumsy and difficult movements.

In addition, during the workouts in the prone posture using the workout assisting instrument 100, pains are caused in the left and the right protruded (left and right anterior superior iliac spines) parts of the pelvis, and since these pains will not be absorbed, this causes a trouble that the pains will not be eased during the workouts. In addition, during the workouts in the prone posture, the fixed state of the workout assisting instrument 100 due to the entire surface-contact with the floor surface is continuing. For this reason, since a state where a pressure concentrates on the pubis part continues, a relatively stronger pain is caused in the pubis part as compared with the pains in the protruded parts of the pelvis. Therefore, this also causes a trouble that uncomfortable feeling continues occurring in the pubis part.

The present invention is to conquer generally the two troubles described above and is made to generate twisting movements centering on a pelvis which is impossible with the workout assisting instrument 100. The main purpose of the present invention is directed to always maintain destabilized an instrument for supporting workouts in a prone posture, while a person is working out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A prone workout assisting instrument according to the subject matter of the present invention includes a first body part including (A) a rectangular parallelepiped part extending in a first direction parallel to a floor surface and forming a first fulcrum of a pubis of a person during workouts in a prone posture, and (B) a supporting part entirely integrated with a bottom part of the rectangular parallelepiped part in the first direction, and including an apex part that comes in a contact state of a line-contact in the first direction with the floor surface when the person works out in the prone posture, a second body part corresponding to one end side part of one side face part extending in the first direction of the rectangular parallelepiped part of the first body part, and projected from a first part of the one side face part between one part thereof corresponding to a head-side part of the person during the workouts in the prone posture and the other part separated from the one part for a predetermined dimension in a second direction along a surface parallel to the floor surface through which the first direction passes, a third body part extending in the first direction and corresponding to the one end side part of the other side face part opposing to the one side face part of the rectangular parallelepiped part of the first body part, and projected from a second part of the other side face part between one part corresponding to the head-side part of the person during the workouts in the prone posture and the other part separated from the one part for the predetermined dimension in a third direction that is separating from the second body part and along the face parallel to the floor surface, a first cushioning part of an elastic body integrated with the second body part and forming a second fulcrum of a right anterior superior iliac spine of an ilium of the person during the workouts in the prone posture, and a second cushioning part of an elastic body integrated with the third body part and forming a third fulcrum of a left anterior superior iliac spine of the ilium of the person during the workouts in the prone posture.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the subject matter of the present invention, when the person works out in the prone posture using the assisting instrument, both the left and right protruded parts of the waist part of the person's pelvis (that is, the left and right anterior superior iliac spine parts of the ilium of the pelvis) contact the first cushioning part and the second cushioning part of the elastic bodies and are supported by the cushioning parts, respectively, and the pubis of the person's pelvis is supported by the rectangular parallelepiped part. Further, the apex part of the supporting part of the first body part is in a line-contact state with the floor surface, ands inclines to the left and the right and supports the rotational movements (the twisting movements to the left and the right), while the supporting part maintains the contact state with the floor surface according to the rotation of the waist. The lower half of the person's body below his/her waist, i.e., the person's pelvis, is supported by fulcrums at three points of: contacts at two points between each of both the cushioning parts and the corresponding side of the anterior superior iliac spines of the ilium of the pelvis, and a contact at one point between the upper face of the rectangular parallelepiped part of the first body part and the pubis of the pelvis. In addition, the first body part is supported by the floor surface in the line-contact state between the apex part of the supporting part (for example, the semicircle pillar section) and the floor surface. When the person performs a workout of twists his/her waist in various ways in the prone posture with the three-point support of the pelvis, since the pelvis is stable with the three-point support as described above, the person becomes easier to rotate his/her waist more intensively and, thus his/her back becomes easier to be trained. In that case, since the force applied to each of the left and right anterior superior iliac spine parts of the pelvis or each of the left and right protruded parts of the waist is absorbed by the second cushioning part and the first cushioning part, respectively, the pains in the left and right anterior superior iliac spine parts of the pelvis or the protruded parts of the waist are absorbed by the respective cushioning parts, and are reduced remarkably.

Meanwhile, according to the subject matter of the present invention, when the person moves his/her one arm up and down greatly to train his/her back, or when the person moves his/her one leg up and down greatly to train the back and the leg, the assisting instrument is going to shift from a stable state to an unstable state, contrary to the conventional instrument. This is also the same for movements of the person's trunk. Because, by the up-and-down movements of the leg or the like, since the apex part of the supporting part comprised of, for example, the semicircle pillar part inclines either to the left or the right greatly and it becomes impossible to maintain the line-contact state with the floor surface. Then, since the supporting part begins to roll in the direction, the person will be thrown out of the assisting instrument if he/she stays in the same posture. In order to resolve the unstable state to continue the workouts, the person must put his/her strength into the inner unit which is muscles deep inside the abdomen (a muscle group which is comprised of a diaphragm, a pelvic bottom muscle group, a transverse abdominal muscle, and a multifidus muscle, and which exists deep inside a part from the pelvis to the abdominal cavity) to strengthen his/her abdominal muscles to prevent the rolling of the supporting part. Therefore, conversely taking advantage of the unstable state of the assisting instrument to roll the supporting part, the person becomes easier to train the inner unit of the abdomen which was generally hard to be trained. Precisely, by eliminating the fixed idea in which the workouts in the prone posture should be performed in a stable state, the person can train the inner unit with the utilization of the assisting instrument which is created by the reverse thinking.

Moreover, according to the subject matter of the present invention, by the absorbing function of the third cushioning part that extends in the first direction, is placed on the upper face of the other end part of the rectangular parallelepiped part on the person's leg side, and forms the first fulcrum of the pubis of the ilium, the pain caused in the pubis part by pressing force of the person's body can be reduced remarkably, as compared with the conventional product.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, along with their effects and advantages based on the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view according to Embodiment 1 of the invention illustrating a configuration of a prone workout assisting instrument.

FIG. 2 is a front view according to Embodiment 1 of the invention illustrating the configuration of the prone workout assisting instrument.

FIG. 3 is a side view according to Embodiment 1 of the invention illustrating the configuration of the prone workout assisting instrument.

FIG. 4 is a top view according to Embodiment 1 of the invention illustrating the configuration of the prone workout assisting instrument.

FIG. 5 is a side view according to a modification of Embodiment 1 of the invention illustrating a configuration of a prone workout assisting instrument.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view according to another modification of Embodiment 1 of the invention illustrating a configuration of a prone workout assisting instrument.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view according to a conventional technology schematically illustrating a configuration of a prone workout assisting instrument.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1

<Configuration of Prone Workout Assisting Instrument>

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a prone workout assisting instrument (hereinafter, referred to as “the assisting instrument”) according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 corresponds to a front view of FIG. 1, when viewing the assisting instrument straight forward from legs side of a person at the time of placing the assisting instrument still on a floor surface 9. FIG. 3 is a side view at the time of viewing the assisting instrument of FIG. 1 from the right side. FIG. 4 is a top view at the time of viewing the assisting instrument of FIG. 1 from straight above.

Note that, although hatching is drawn in each of pads 4 and 5 described later in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, these hatchings are not to illustrate cross sections because the hatchings are illustrated for convenience of understanding the structure.

As illustrated in these drawings, a center axis CA of a first body part 1 extends in a first direction D1 parallel to a floor surface 9. The first body part 1 includes (A) a rectangular parallelepiped section 1A which extends in the first direction D1, and (B) a semicircle pillar section 1B of which the vertical cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the first direction D1 is a semicircle. Here, the semicircle pillar section 1B is entirely integrated with a bottom portion 1AB of the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A in the first direction D1. For example, in the case of the assisting instrument illustrated in FIG. 1, the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A and the semicircle pillar section 1B are fabricated so as to be completely integrated together into one member. In this case, the bottom portion 1AB of the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A drawn with a dashed line is a part which is to be recognized abstractly for the convenience of description. However, the first body part 1 may be constructed by, after independently fabricating the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A and the semicircle pillar section 1B, stacking and pasting both the sections 1A and 1B together (this state is also called “integration”). Then, when a person (hereinafter, referred to as “the workout person”) works out in a prone posture and in a state where his/her pelvis is supported at three points by the assisting instrument as described later, the assisting instrument line-contacts in a stationary state with the floor surface 9 in the first direction D1 at an apex part 1BT of the semicircle pillar section 1B. The first body part 1 is made of, for example, plastic. Note that the apex part 1BT of the semicircle pillar section 1B corresponds to a semicircle middle part.

Moreover, a second body part 2 projects from a first portion 1ASAA of one side face section 1ASA of the rectangular parallelepiped part 1A of the first body part 1, perpendicular to the first direction D1 and to a rightward D2(+) in the second directions D2 parallel to the floor surface 9. Note that, in this embodiment, although the second body part 2 has an inclined bottom portion, this is merely an example and the shape of the part 2 is not limited to this shape. The same can also be said for the shape of a third body part 3 described later. Here, the first portion 1ASAA of the one side face section 1ASA of the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A corresponds to a part from one part of the one side face section 1ASA to the other part separated from the one part for a predetermined dimension L4 (refer to FIG. 4) in the first direction D1. In addition, the one part of the one side face section 1ASA corresponds to, during the workouts in the prone posture, a part of the first body part 1 or the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A, closer to one end portion 1AE located on the head side of the workout person. A first pad 4 is entirely placed on an upper face 2US of the second body part 2. Of course, the first pad 4 may be partially placed on the upper face 2US in the second directions D2, as long as a side face 4SS having the length of the predetermined dimension L4 in the first direction is achieved. This first pad (corresponding to a first cushioning part) 4 is comprised of an elastic body (for example, urethane or rubber) which can absorb a pressing force applied to the pad 4 by a right ilium of the workout person's pelvis.

Further, the third body part 3 projects in the second direction D2 away from the second body part 2, from a second part of the other side face section 1ASB of the rectangular parallelepiped part 1A of the first body part 1, opposite from the one side face section 1ASA in the second direction D2, the other side face section 1ASB extending in the first direction D1. Here, the second part of the other side face section 1ASB corresponds to a part from one part of the first body part 1 or the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A corresponding to the one end side portion 1AE located on the head side of the workout person (when working out in the prone posture) to the other part separated from the one part in the first direction D1 for the predetermined dimension L4 (refer to FIG. 4). A second pad (corresponding to a second cushioning part) 5 is entirely placed on an upper face 3US of the third body part 3. Of course, the second pad 5 may be partially placed in the second directions D2 on the upper face 3US, as long as a side face 5SS having the length of the predetermined dimension L4 in the first direction is achieved. This second pad 5 is also comprised of an elastic body (for example, urethane or rubber) which can absorb a pressing force applied to the second pad 5, similar to the first pad 4.

It should be particularly noted that a groove part 6 is formed between the opposing side faces 4SS and 5SS of both the pads 4 and 5. That is, the groove part 6 is comprised of the side face 4SS of the first pad 4 opposing to the second pad 5, the side face 5SS of the second pad 5 opposing to the first pad 4, an exposed part 1ES of an upper face TAUS of the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A of the first body part 1 between the side face 4SS of the first pad 4 and the side face 5SS of the second pad 5. The meaning of existence of the groove part 6 will be further clarified in later description of a method of using the assisting instrument. Roughly, the groove part 6 has an advantage such that, upon the workouts in the prone posture, the groove part 6 is a part into which the abdomen of the person whose pelvis is supported at three points by the assisting instrument fits, and the person can easily tighten his/her abdominal inner unit according to the fitting state of the abdomen.

Note that reference symbols 1EA and 1EB illustrated in FIG. 3 are one end part (head-side part) and the other end part (leg-side part) of the first body part 1 in the first direction D1, respectively. Further, reference symbols 1AE and 1AEE illustrated in FIG. 1 are one end part (head-side part) and the other end part (leg-side part) of the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A in the first direction D1, respectively.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A of the first body part 1 is provided with a stepped part 7. This stepped part 7 is a part of the upper face 1AUS of the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A to locate a part 1NES other than the exposed part 1ES at a position lower than the position of the exposed part 1ES. Further, a third pad (corresponding to a third cushioning part) 8 comprised of an elastic body (made of rubber, urethane or the like) which can absorb a pressing force applied to the pubis during the workouts in the prone posture is, as an example of this embodiment, entirely placed over the part 1NES of the upper face TAUS of the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A, other than the exposed part 1ES.

Note that, although a dimensional relation of lengths L1, L2 and L3 illustrated in FIG. 4 is set as L1=L2=L3 in this embodiment, different dimensional settings from the dimensional relation may also be possible, of course.

Further, the rectangular parallelepiped part 1A of the first body part 1, the second body part 2, and the third body part 3 which are illustrated in FIG. 1 may be made of metal with a relatively large elastic deformation compared with gold or the like (for example, such as aluminum), respectively. In this case, the third pad 8, the first pad 4, and the second pad 5 are placed on the upper faces 1AUS, 2US, and 3US of the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A, the second body part 2, and the third body part 3 made of metal, respectively. Here, a coupled state between the second body part 2 made of metal and the first pad 4 constituting “the first cushioning part” is also defined as “the integrated state of the components 2 and 4.” Further, a coupled state between the third body part 3 made of metal and the second pad 5 constituting “the second cushioning part” is also defined as “the integrated state of the components 3 and 5.”

<Use of Prone Workout Assisting Instrument>

Below, the workouts in the prone posture using the assisting instrument will be described, suitably referring to FIGS. 1 to 4.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the workout person places the assisting instrument having the structure of FIG. 1 on the floor surface 9 such that the apex part 1BT of the semicircle pillar section 1B entirely line-contacts with the floor surface 9. In this case, the one end part 1EA (FIG. 3) of the first body part 1 is oriented on the head side of the workout person, and the other end part 1EB (FIG. 3) of the first body part 1 is oriented on the leg side of the workout person.

In this state, the workout person lies his/her body into the prone posture. The workout person brings a front face part of his/her right waist part, i.e., the right anterior superior iliac spine part of the ilium of the pelvis to face-contact with the upper face 4US of the first pad 4, while maintaining the prone posture. Similarly, the workout person brings a front face part of his/her left waist part, i.e., the left anterior superior iliac spine part of the ilium of the pelvis to face-contact with the upper face 5US of the second pad 5. Further, the workout person moves the lower half of his/her body until the pubis part of the pelvis touches the upper face 8US of the third pad 8. In this case, the workout person is in a state of supporting his/her own weight by the forearm parts (below both the elbow joints), the lower leg parts (below both the knee joints), and the assisting instrument.

Then, in this state, the pelvis of the workout person and his/her body parts near the pelvis are supported at two points by the assisting instrument, via a third fulcrum and a second fulcrum of the face-contacts between the left and the right front faces of the waist part of the person's body with the second pad 5 and the first pad 4, respectively. In addition, the front face of the pubis part of the pelvis of the workout person's body is also supported at the first fulcrum by the face-contact between the front face and the third pad 8 of the assisting instrument. As a result, the pelvis of the workout person's body is supported at the three points by the assisting instrument.

In addition, the apex part 1BT of the semicircle pillar section 1B of the assisting instrument is in a line-contact state with the floor surface 9 in the first direction D1 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). For this reason, when the workout person's body is in the prone posture for the workouts, the assisting instrument is in an unstable state where the instrument easily rocks in the left and right directions AR (refer to FIG. 2). This “unstable state” in the left and right directions AR is a major feature of the assisting instrument together with the three-point support of the pelvis described above, and such an unstable state is intentionally created by the assisting instrument.

Thus, in this three-point supporting state, the workout person's abdomen part is fitted into the groove part 6 of the assisting instrument as a natural result of the person's body lying prone. The fitting of the abdomen, as well as the first and second pads 4 and 5 being placed for the two-point support, is also a feature associated with the unstable state of the assisting instrument when using the assisting instrument previously described.

(1) In such a posture, the workout person can freely rock the waist part in the left and right directions AR centering on his/her pelvis with a greater movement than the conventional product (refer to FIG. 7). In this case, in the stationary state, the support of the assisting instrument on the floor surface 9 is achieved by the line-contact state between the apex part 1BT of the semicircle pillar section 1B and the floor surface 9. Then, according to the movement of the waist part shaking to the left and the right centering on the workout person's pelvis described above, the semicircle pillar section 1B can move in the left and right directions AR (refer to FIG. 2), while the line-contact state between the floor surface 9, and the apex part 1BT of the semicircle pillar section 1B and left and right semicircular surfaces near the apex part 1BT, is maintained in the unstable state. Therefore, the workout person can perform various kinds of workout by the twisting movement (rotating direction) of the waist part centering on his/her pelvis and, thus, the strength in his/her back can be increased, according to his/her intention. In this regard, the conventional product (FIG. 7), which is immobile in the left and right directions during workouts since the flat part of the product entirely face-contacts the floor surface, cannot achieve this feature. This feature can be achieved for the first time by the assisting instrument that supports the pelvis of the person's body at three points while the person lies prone in the unstable state, that is, by the mobility of the assisting instrument to move freely in the left and right directions AR, while the apex part 1BT of the semicircle pillar section 1B and the left and right semicircular surfaces near the apex part 1BT unstably maintain the line-contact state in the first direction D1 with the floor surface 9.

In addition, during the workouts of the waist part shaking freely to the left and the right centering on the pelvis, the workout person can concentrate on this workouts, without feeling totally uncomfortable. That is, 1) since the right protruded part of the waist part of the pelvis (right iliac ridge part of the ilium) is in contact with the upper face 4US of the first pad 4, the pressing force applied to the right protruded part of the waist part is absorbed by the first pad 4. As a result, the pain in the right protruded part of the waist part which the workout person feels during the workouts in the prone posture is remarkably reduced by the first pad 4 compared with the conventional product (refer to FIG. 7) simply made of rubber. 2) Similarly, since the left protruded part of the waist part of the pelvis (the left ridge part of the ilium) is in contact with the upper face 5US of the second pad 5, the pressing force applied to the left protruded part of the waist part is also effectively absorbed by the second pad 5, and the pain in the left protruded part of the waist part during the workouts is also reduced remarkably by the second pad 5, as compared with the conventional product. 3) In addition, the maximum pain caused in the pubis can be remarkably reduced at the time of using the conventional product (refer to FIG. 5). That is, during the workouts in the prone posture, since the pubis part of the pelvis is always in contact with the upper face 8US of the third pad 8 of the assisting instrument, the pressing force applied to the pubis part during the workouts is certainly absorbed by the third pad 8, without depending on the person's gender. Therefore, the instrument can remarkably reduce the pain caused in the pubis part. Therefore, the workout person can performs his/her intended exercises, concentrating on the twisting movements in the left and right directions AR described above, almost without being conscious about the uncomfortable feelings associated with the pain which is felt in the pubis part in the conventional product (refer to FIG. 7) during the workouts in the prone posture.

(2) Moreover, the second effect of the workouts in the prone posture using the assisting instrument is being able to directly and effectively train the inner unit which is located directly inside the abdomen, which is very difficult to be trained, for example, by the usual workouts such as sit-ups. The effect of the ability to directly train the inner unit is based on the structure which intentionally enables the generation of the unstable state in the left and right directions AR (referring to FIG. 2) about the semicircle pillar section 1B extending in the first direction D1 of the assisting instrument upon the workouts in a state where the person's body is supported at the three points in the prone posture. The structural features of the assisting instrument are based on the reverse thinking which eliminated the fixed idea or the approach of always maintaining an instrument at a fixed state during the workouts in the prone posture. The following is about a method of using the assisting instrument in order to describe in detail the intentional implementation of the unstable state in the left and right directions AR of the assisting instrument during the workouts in the prone posture of the person's body and the three-point supporting state of the pelvis.

For example, when the workout person trains his/her back by greatly raising the right arm, since the center of gravity of the person's body moves to the left, the left waist part of the person's body (the left part of the ilium) puts the weight heavily on the upper face 5US side of the second pad 5. Therefore, the assisting instrument inclines greatly to the left, and it becomes impossible to support the first body part 1 by the fulcrum of the line-contact state between the apex part 1BT of the semicircle pillar section 1B and the floor surface 9. As a result, the fulcrum of the semicircle pillar section 1B and the floor surface 9 moves greatly to the left, and the semicircle pillar section 1B begins to roll to the left. Similarly, also when the workout person trains his/her back by greatly raising the right leg and bending the person's body backward, as a result of the center of gravity of the person's body moving to the left from the central part, the assisting instrument inclines greatly to the left, becoming impossible to support the first body part 1 by the fulcrum of the line-contact state between the apex part 1BT of the semicircle pillar section 1B and the floor surface 9. As a result, the semicircle pillar section 1B begins to roll to the left. The workout person will be thrown out of the assisting instrument to the left due to the rolling movement of the semicircle pillar section 1B to the left. The rolling movement of the semicircle pillar section 1B resulting from the unstable state of the first body part 1 is also similarly caused when the person greatly raises the opposite arm or the opposite leg, or when the person moves his/her trunk. Note that, for the movement of the opposite arm or the like, the rolling movement of the semicircle pillar section 1B is caused to the right, and the workout person is thrown out of the assisting instrument to the right.

Therefore, the workout person whose pelvis is supported in the prone state by the assisting instrument at the three points is going to continue the workouts for training his/her back while preventing his/her body from being thrown to either left or right. To make this happen, the workout person puts his/her strength in the inner unit of the abdomen which is fitted and fixed into the groove part 6 to stop the rolling movement of the semicircle pillar section 1B which is about to roll, and keep the original state by maintaining the line-contact state between the apex part 1BT of the semicircle pillar section 1B and the floor surface 9. When the workout person performs the leg raise to train his/her back or the like, the person can also train the inner unit simultaneously by keeping the movement of putting the force into the inner unit in the prone posture. This effect can be said that it is the greatest advantage of the assisting instrument which can be achieved by intentionally destabilizing the assisting instrument to the left and the right in the first direction D1 which is supporting the pelvis of the person's body in the prone posture at the three points.

<Conclusion on Structural Features of Assisting Instrument>

The structural features of the assisting instrument can be summarized into the following three points. That is,

1) three-point support of the anterior superior iliac spines and the pubis;

2) the supporting part (for example, the semicircle pillar part) of the first body part is unstable in the left and right directions (in the left and right directions: unstableness=mobility); and

3) the first to third cushioning parts (for example, comprised of pads) are clearly provided.

<Meaning of Existence in Feature #1 Described Above>

The structural stability of the pelvis can be brought out. The three-point support in this posture brings out a nodding movement of the sacrum. This brings out the structural stability of the pelvis. This efficacy brings out load transferability of the pelvis to cause an increase in performance of sports (such as golf or tennis) which transmits forces of legs to hands when working out in a standing posture.

<Meaning of Existence in Feature #2 Described Above>

i) The supporting part of the semicircle pillar part and the like creates the unstable state of the assisting instrument to the left and the right to take advantages of the reaction when the person's body tries to stabilize the assisting instrument from the unstable state.

ii) The distortion of the person's body or the eccentric ways of moving the body becomes apparent (e.g., in a case where the workout person can raise the right leg, the person will roll and fall if he/she raises the left leg).

iii) The new movement can be created. That is, the movement, which was impossible with the conventional product, can be created. The new movement is, during the workouts in the prone posture, to rotate the person's body to the left and the right, while maintaining the structural stability of the pelvis.

<Meaning of Existence in Feature #3 Described Above>

The pain caused in the pubis with the conventional product can be eased by utilizing this assisting instrument. This function becomes possible together with the effect of the assisting instrument itself being an unstable object because of the existence of the supporting part of the semicircle pillar shape or the like, and the reaction force from the floor surface is distributed.

The following listed efficacies can be acquired by the above features. That is,

1) activation of the inner unit which exists from the pelvis to the abdominal cavity (facilitation of the functional stability of the pelvis);

2) facilitation of the structural stability of the pelvis by urging the nodding movement of the sacrum;

3) activation of muscle groups which exist in the rear side of the person's body, such as the hamstrings, gluteus maximus, and back muscles; and

4) relaxation and stretch of muscle groups, such as buttocks, waist, and back muscles by the twisting movements.

The following workout effects can be expected by improving the above physical performance. That is,

1) improvement in the workout performance of golf, tennis, and baseball which require the twisting movements;

2) improvement in the fundamental moving performance of walking and standing;

3) shapeup from the femurs (thighs) to the buttocks and to the back by stimulating hamstrings of gluteus maximus, and back muscles, or by relaxation of waist muscle group; and

4) application to rehabilitation for low back pains or the like.

Modification 1

The upper face of the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A may only be formed in a flat part, without providing the stepped part 7 of the assisting instrument to the rectangular parallelepiped section 1A, and without providing the third pad 8. In this case, although the pain in the pubis part of the workout person's pelvis is not eased, it is possible to train his/her abdominal inner unit.

Modification 2

Although the first pad 4 of the elastic body is placed on the upper face 2US of the second body part 2 in Embodiment 1, a cushioning body made of, for example, rubber or urethane may be integrated with the second body part 2 formed from a cushioning body made of the same material (for example, rubber or urethane), instead of providing the first pad 4. In the present invention, the cushioning bodies which replace the first pad 4 of Embodiment 1 and the first pad 4 in this modification are together be defined as “the first cushioning part of the elastic body that is integrated with the second body part and forms the second fulcrum of the right anterior superior iliac spine of the workout person's ilium during the workouts in the prone posture.”

Similarly, the second pad 5 of the elastic body is placed on the upper face 3US of the third body part 3. However, instead of the placement of the second pad 5, a cushioning body made of, for example, rubber or urethane may be integrated with the third body part 3 formed from a cushioning body made of the same material. In the present invention, the cushioning bodies which replace the second pad 5 of Embodiment 1 and the second pad 5 in this modification are together defined as “the second cushioning part of the elastic body that is integrated with the third body part and forms the third fulcrum of the left anterior superior iliac spine of the workout person's ilium during the workouts in the prone posture.”

Modification 3

The semicircle pillar section 1B of the first body part 1 of FIG. 1 in Embodiment 1 may instead be a semispherical section (see FIG. 5 which is a side view). In this case, when working out in the prone posture using the assisting instrument, the apex part 1BT of the part contacts at a point with the floor surface 9. Even in this case, the semispherical section of the first body part 1 is in an unstable state to the left and the right (in the second directions D2(+) and D2(−)) and, thus, the assisting instrument is provided with the mobility in the rotating directions to the left and the right (unstableness=mobility).

Alternatively, the semicircle pillar section 1B of the first body part 1 of FIG. 1 may be replaced by a triangular pyramid part which has a triangular shape in the vertical cross-sectional shape in the first direction D1 (see FIG. 6 which is a perspective view). In this case, when working out in the prone posture, the apex part 1BT of the triangular pyramid part becomes in a state where it line-contacts the floor surface 9. Similarly, the triangular pyramid part of the first body part 1 is unstable to the left and the right (in the second directions D2(+) and D2(−)), and the assisting instrument is provided with the mobility in the rotating directions to the left and the right (unstableness=mobility). Note that the triangular pyramid part may be referred to as a “triangular prism part.”

Modification 4

In Embodiment 1, the second directions D2 are directions which are perpendicular to the first direction D1 and pass through the floor surface 9, and the assisting instrument has a T-shaped structure as illustrated in FIG. 4, when the assisting instrument is viewed from above. Instead of this structure, a structure of the assisting instrument in a top view branched to a three pronged fork, typically, the arrangement of the second body part 2 and the third body part 3, i.e., the extension in the second direction and the extension in the third direction (D2(−)) with respect to the first direction D1 may be altered so that the structure has a Y-shape. In this case, the second direction D2 is a direction which intersects with the first direction D1 at an intersecting angle of other than 90° and which extends along a face parallel to the floor surface 9. The second body part 2 extends in the second direction. Similarly, the third body part 3 extends symmetrically with the second direction, or extends in the third direction extending along the same surface and in a direction such that the third body part 3 separates from the second body part 2. Effects acquirable in this modification are similar to those described in Embodiment 1. In the case of this modification, the assisting instrument has a structure where the supporting part does not exist at the workout person's abdomen.

The functions and effects described in Embodiment 1 can also be acquired in this modification.

Modification 5

Instead of the three-point support described in Embodiment 1, the pelvis and the abdomen may entirely (totally) be supported. In this case, the assisting instrument includes (1) a supporting part for supporting the anterior superior iliac spines and the pubis of the pelvis at three points, and supporting the pelvis and a part around the abdomen, and (2) an unstable part that is integrated with the supporting part and is movable in the rotating directions of the person's body to the left and the right, while being in a contact state with the floor surface, either a line-contact or a point-contact, during the workouts in the prone posture.

(Additional Remarks)

As described above, although the embodiment of the invention is disclosed and described in detail, the above description illustrates aspects to which the present invention is applicable, and the present invention is not limited to the aspects. That is, it is possible to consider various changes and/or modifications over the described aspects without departing from the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is suitable when it is applied to the workout assisting instrument for allowing the workouts in the prone posture with the three-point support at home, a fitness club or a sports club.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 First Body Part -   1A Rectangular Parallelepiped Part -   1B Semicircle Pillar Part -   1BT Apex Part of Semicircle Pillar Part -   1AB Bottom Part of Rectangular Parallelepiped Part -   1AE One End Side Part of Rectangular Parallelepiped Part -   1ASA One Side Face Part of Rectangular Parallelepiped Part -   1ASB Other Side Face Part of Rectangular Parallelepiped Part -   1AUS Upper Face of Rectangular Parallelepiped Part -   1ES Exposed Part of Upper Face of Rectangular Parallelepiped Part -   1NES Part Other Than Exposed part of Upper Face of Rectangular     Parallelepiped Part -   2 Second Body Part -   2US Upper Face of Second Body Part -   3 Third Body Part -   3US Upper Face of Third Body Part -   4 First Pad of Elastic Body -   5 Second Pad of Elastic Body -   4SS Side Face of First Pad Opposing to Second Pad -   5SS Side Face of Second Pad Opposing to First Pad -   6 Groove Part -   7 Stepped Part -   8 Third Pad of Elastic Body (Third Cushioning Part) -   D1 First Direction -   D2 Second Direction 

1. A prone workout assisting instrument, comprising: a first body part comprising (A) a rectangular parallelepiped part extending in a first direction parallel to a floor surface and forming a first fulcrum of a pubis of a person during workouts in a prone posture, and (B) a supporting part entirely integrated with a bottom part of the rectangular parallelepiped part in the first direction, and including an apex part that comes in a contact state of a line-contact in the first direction with the floor surface when the person works out in the prone posture; a second body part corresponding to one end side part of one side face part extending in the first direction of the rectangular parallelepiped part of the first body part, and projected from a first part of the one side face part between one part thereof corresponding to a head-side part of the person during the workouts in the prone posture and the other part separated from the one part for a predetermined dimension in a second direction along a surface parallel to the floor surface through which the first direction passes; a third body part extending in the first direction and corresponding to the one end side part of the other side face part opposing to the one side face part of the rectangular parallelepiped part of the first body part, and projected from a second part of the other side face part between one part corresponding to the head-side part of the person during the workouts in the prone posture and the other part separated from the one part for the predetermined dimension in a third direction that is separating from the second body part and along the face parallel to the floor surface; a first cushioning part of an elastic body integrated with the second body part and forming a second fulcrum of a right anterior superior iliac spine of an ilium of the person during the workouts in the prone posture; and a second cushioning part of an elastic body integrated with the third body part and forming a third fulcrum of a left anterior superior iliac spine of the ilium of the person during the workouts in the prone posture.
 2. A prone workout assisting instrument, comprising: a first body part comprising (A) a rectangular parallelepiped part extending in a first direction parallel to a floor surface and forming a first fulcrum of a pubis of a person during workouts in a prone posture, and (B) a supporting part entirely integrated with a bottom part of the rectangular parallelepiped part in the first direction, and including an apex part that comes in a contact state of either one of a line-contact or a point-contact in the first direction with the floor surface when the person works out in the prone posture; a second body part corresponding to one end side part of one side face part extending in the first direction of the rectangular parallelepiped part of the first body part, and projected from a first part of the one side face part between one part thereof corresponding to a head-side part of the person during the workouts in the prone posture and the other part separated from the one part for a predetermined dimension in a second direction along a surface parallel to the floor surface through which the first direction passes; a third body part extending in the first direction and corresponding to the one end side part of the other side face part opposing to the one side face part of the rectangular parallelepiped part of the first body part, and projected from a second part of the other side face part between one part corresponding to the head-side part of the person during the workouts in the prone posture and the other part separated from the one part for the predetermined dimension in a third direction that is separating from the second body part and along the face parallel to the floor surface; a first cushioning part of an elastic body integrated with the second body part and forming a second fulcrum of a right anterior superior iliac spine of an ilium of the person during the workouts in the prone posture; and a second cushioning part of an elastic body integrated with the third body part and forming a third fulcrum of a left anterior superior iliac spine of the ilium of the person during the workouts in the prone posture, wherein the rectangular parallelepiped part of the first body part includes a stepped part in an upper face of the rectangular parallelepiped part, wherein the prone workout assisting instrument further comprises a third cushioning part of an elastic body placed on a part of the upper face of the rectangular parallelepiped part, relatively lower than the stepped part, the third cushioning part forming the first fulcrum during the workouts in the prone posture.
 3. A prone workout assisting instrument, comprising: supporting parts each having a first cushioning part, a second cushioning part, and a third cushioning part of elastic bodies for supporting anterior superior iliac spines and a pubis of a pelvis at three points, and supporting the pelvis and a part around an abdomen; and an unstable part integrated with the supporting part and movable in rotating directions of a body of a person to the left and the right in a contact state of either one of a line-contact and a point-contact with a floor surface during workouts in a prone posture. 